Sen. Flake meets with local leaders on ag, border issues
Sen. Jeff Flake visited Yuma Thursday to listen to the concerns of agriculture leaders, law enforcement, base commanders and other community representatives. He also met with Yuma County Chamber of Commerce and local Republican Party officials.
The Republican senator flew into the Yuma International Airport at 7 a.m. and was met by 4-H kids.
“That was the best part,” Flake said. “They looked sharp. I never looked so sharp.”
He grew up with the youth organization and raised a steer every year. “That was my spending money for the year,” he quipped.
He spent the day holding meetings in a conference room at the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office. He heard concerns about making sure the border, specifically the San Luis Ports of Entry 1 and 2, has adequate resources and needed infrastructure, “not just physical infrastructure but that it’s fully staffed, both with blue and green uniforms.”
Flake pledged to “make sure our colleagues in Congress understand the border is not just a place to secure, but a place of commerce.” He noted Yuma is unique because of the agriculture industry, which leads to 10,000 border-crossings between 4-6
a.m. during the season.
“We need the infrastructure to deal with that,” Flake said.
He also heard echoes of the same worry he has heard from sheriffs and police across the state. They conveyed uneasiness with detaining policies: Should they detain people suspected of being undocumented? Will they be liable if they do?
Conversations also touched on trade and the North American Free Trade
Agreement, which President Trump has threatened to leave. Flake said he sees the value of border-cross trade, which “significantly benefits” Arizona.
“It’s not a zero-sum game. Mexico benefits, Canada benefits. Some think if Mexico is benefitting, then the U.S. must not be. The United States can benefit too,” he said.
Discussion with Yuma representatives also centered on regulatory taxation, environmental policy and labor issues.
“My office has better cooperation with federal
agencies — BLM (Bureau of Land Management), Forest Service, EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) — in addressing issues, but we can still do better. Like ozone and the EPA. We’ve gotten a reprieve with that, but some of the standards are unrealistic,” Flake noted.
Asked what message he had for Yumans, Flake said, “We’re working to address those issues. We’re making progress in some, but we have a long way to go. Sen. (John) McCain and I work together on issues. We work regularly with
agency officials so we can leverage our influence and work with the delegation where possible.”
He also encouraged Yuma County residents to reach out to him with their concerns. “When I can’t get here, I have staff here. They’re a good staff. They’re here quite frequently. It’s a good team.”
Flake is also gearing up for the 2018 election. “I’ve got a good campaign team. They’re working hard already. We have good support in the state, but I don’t take (anything) for granted.”